Deans and Horwill devastated by loss

by staff

Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was understandably devastated by the Wallabies 41-16 loss to the Lions in the deciding third Test of the DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour on Saturday night in Sydney.

But he remained upbeat about the future of his young team.

"[I'm] not excited obviously in terms of what we've just been through but that doesn't change the possibilities and potential of the group," said Deans.

"They're a better side than what they put out there tonight, that's the disappointing thing. On what was a very important occasion we came up well short and we contributed to a lot of it ourselves."

Deans was also confident that the Wallabies could re-group quickly ahead of the first match of the Rugby Championship, which doubles as the first Bledisloe Test, against the All Blacks in Sydney on August 17.

"It's a different competition, different opponent, different circumstance and a different method in terms of what's coming the other way," he explained.

"The Lions play a game that we're very familiar with, we're very conscious of the fact that we have to take them out of their comfort zone, we weren't able to do that, we gave them a leg up, which really allowed them to thrive.

"With a lead on the board it meant they could play in a way that meant they could really put the pressure back on us, then use the set piece. The Rugby Championship is a totally different tournament, I've got no doubt that these blokes will respond, they're too good not to."

Wallabies captain James Horwill struggled to come to terms with the loss.

"We made too many errors early on and gave them a head start," said the giant Reds lock.

"We started the second half well but we let them get away, give them credit. We just weren't good enough tonight.

"We let ourselves down and we need to be better."